Azusa River Wilderness Park at El Encanto

[Bill]

I would encourage anyone who lives in Azusa and especially near the location of this new 40 acre park to get involved in the planning process. If you've ever been to Monrovia Canyon Park - you can see how well this type of thing can be done. Monrovia charges a small fee ($5) to get in to their park on the honor system. The fee allows the park management to manage issues like graffiti, homeless and partying. What kinds of ideas do you have??? The first meeting is Nov 16th.

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Watershed Conservation Authority
900 S Fremont Ave, Alhambra, CA 91803 Phone: [phone]

Re: El Encanto Azusa River Wilderness Park Community Planning Meeting
November 16, 2006

The Watershed Conservation Authority invites you to join us in planning the park that includes and surrounds the old El Encanto restaurant site. We want you to bring your ideas for what kind of things you would like to see at the park. We will be meeting on Thursday, November 16, 2006 from 6:30pm to 8:30pm at the Azusa City Hall Auditorium, 213 E. Foothill Blvd, Azusa CA 91702.

The Watershed Conservation Authority in collaboration with the City of Azusa purchased the former El Encanto restaurant site and has begun the planning effort for a revitalized forty acre park. The forty acre site will be the beginning of the planned Azusa River Wilderness Park located on Highway 39 above the City of Azusa. As a part of the planning process three community meetings will be held.

The designers overseeing the development of the park’s Master Plan are BlueGreen Open Space Planning and Design who will tell you about what they have learned about the site (existing site conditions) and how you can continue to help with the planning process.

Scheduled dates for the Community Meetings:

November 16, 2006 6:30-8:30 pm Public Input
February 15, 2007 6:30-8:30 pm Presentation of 3 Design Alternatives
May 3, 2007 6:30-8:30 pm Final Park Plan

For additional information contact:

Lynne Dwyer, BlueGreen Open Space Planning and Design
570 W. Avenue 26, Suite 700
Los Angeles, CA 90065
323 225-1221
[e-mail]

Jane Beesley, Watershed Conservation Authority
900 S Fremont Ave, Annex 2nd Floor
Alhambra, CA 91803
626-458-7190
[e-mail]

[athena]

I think this will be a wonderful use of this property. Much better than some of the other uses that have been considered. I will do my best to stay informed and involved.
Thank you.

[Neel]

My only concern is that when they open the park it to the public, people don't trash the place. I went up the canyon and was very dissapointed to see all the trash people leave by the river. I know it's hard for the forest service to enforce no littering.

[Lester]

Thanks for the update. I think that the voluntary $5-10 charge is a good idea.

It would be nice if they would consider putting a stop sign on San Gabriel and the park entrance to decrease the danger of accidents from the additional traffic. Also, it would slow down the speeders coming down from the forest. It might also make it easier for us to turn into Mtn. Cove on busy days.

A sand volleyball court would be great as well.

And maybe an annual san gabriel valley earth day weekend art/organic wine tasting festival to benefit local conservation efforts.

[Bill]

neel said:

I went up the canyon and was very dissapointed to see all the trash people leave by the river.

I completely agree. It absolutely infuriates me to see the blatant disregard for nature .. I mean people dumping beer bottles, plates, cups, even diapers!! I want to see severe penalties for littering, increased patrols, and more trashcans up there. I think part of the planning for the new park should be an entrance fee to help control the littering and graffiti - the problem will be how to enforce that.

One reason Monrovia Canyon is really nice is because it's so secluded. If the Forest Service's numbers are correct they say 7 million people a year visit the San Gabriel Forest and I presume a good portion of those visitors go up via hwy 39 - that means this park is going to get a lot of people traffic.

[circamc]

It's soooo true that the Canyon and river upstream get trashed royally. It's disgusting. I guess if you charge a fee to get into the new park it will keep out the low-income types who tend to trash nature up all the time. I had a Sierra Clubber tell me once that the reason they support keeping Hwy 39 above Crystal Lake closed is to keep the "riffraff" down in the Canyon and out of the backcountry. Same effect as charging $$$ I guess.

[annabanana]

In regards to the last post, I think that many people may find that offensive. I think that you should consider rewording it. Most people that have a low income do not leave trash all over the place. Leaving trash around has to do more with bad careless habits than incomes. Teaching people about being responsible for their actions, caring about the environment, etc. may also be beneficial in helping to reduce the problem.

[Bill]

I think you are missing the point - the fee actually helps to pay for the clean up. Littering and tagging is going to be hard to stop, even with educational programs. I think keeping trash in the trash cans is implied in all things the Forest Service does. Unfortunately, based on what I see up the river, some people just don't care.

[beautifulhome1]

I too would like to see a fee and keep the place monitored...It is too bad but a fact of life that a great deal of slime are no or low income (welfare). It is also too bad that this group seems to hang out up-stream. At least $10.00 would be great, since any alcholic will go to the liquor store instead of "hanging out". Also if it is monitored it should keep out the homeless.